Ventilating system for motor vehicles



Jun 30 1-936.

5. H. BUFORD VENTILATING SYSTEM FC JR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed July 18, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 30, 1936. E, H F RD 2,045,578

VENTILATING SYSTEM FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed July 18, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Li 5 i E-fiufard atented June 30, 1936 Ed H. Buford, Anniston, Ala. Application July 18, 1934, Serial No. 735,845

My invention relates to ventilating devices for the front and rear of motor vehicles, which may beused singly or in combination to constitute a ventilating system,

and has for an object the pro- 5 vision of apparatus of the character designated which shall be operable to provide a maximum of comfort for passengers in such vehicles in adverse weather conditions. Another object of my ventilating system for invention is to provide a closed motor vehicles which shall be effective to eliminate drafts caused by eddy currents of air in the vehicles when running with air rear portion of such ssion devices open.

A still further object of my invention is to pro= vide a ventilating system for motor vehicles which shall include a means the front of the for admission of air through vehicle, and in which flying insects are excluded and water is separated from the air currents and drained away so that the vehicle may be ventilated in stormy weather.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a ventilating system for motor vehicles which shall be effective to provide a controlled circulation of air from the vehicle when the front through the rear of running, and one which may be used as an adjunct to existing systems of ventilation.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a ventilation system for motor vehicles that will permit a flow of air to impinge against the back of the windshield which will ml or eliminate condensation and thereby improve visibility.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a ventilation system for motor vehicles which shall include means of air entering the vertical.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a ventilating system for even while open will truders through these the vehicle.

As is well known vention relates, the

to vary the direction of flow vehicle from horizontal to motor vehicles, that not permit access by inin the art to which my inforward compartment of a motor vehicle becomes very uncomfortable in warm weather due and much thought and the proximity of the engine, attention has been given to the admission of air currents thereto induced by movement of the vehicle. well known that air of the vehicle pass ing eddy currents It is'iurthermore currents admitted at the front to the rear and build up swirlwhich. cause, at es, consid devices to the interior of erable discomfort to passengers in the're ar portion of the vehicle.

While the van tor vehicles have air currents through 'ous I am aware, have provided an separating water or slee and they thus become inefiecti caused by dangerous interior of motor devices for ventilating moserved the purpose of admittin the front, none, so far as 5 effective means for t from the air currents ve in stormy weath- It is well known that many accidents are concentration of gases in the vehicles running closed tight during stormy weather, due to the fact that they can not be ventilated w fort to. the passengers.

It is accordingly a p directly the occupants of the ing discomfort.

to provide a ventilating syste passes through the vehicle from front to rear without the necessity of directly lated air stream strikin the occupants.

Briefiy ny inven of an air admission g the occupan ward compartment be conveniently lo'c ithout extreme discom- Also, such devices with .which I am familiar for admitting air to the id vehicle so direct the currents that they must strike vehicle, often causrime object of my invention In whereby a reguts of the vehicle, and thus to provide a maximum of comfort and safety for tion comprises the provision chamber in front of the forof the vehicle, and which may ated above the cowl and neath the windshield of the vehicle, and which 39 extends across the vehicle provide the a sumcient distance to requisite ventilation under adverse weather conditions. The front of this air admission chamber is preferably the ingress of insects, and brought rearwardly of the windshield with its rear wall curved rents upwardly unless otherwise upwardly to back of the windshield screened to prevent its rear portion is 35 direct the air curso that deflected they tend to follow the inner side of the windshield and the under side 40 of the top of the vehicle and vehicle in the face.

Also located within the air is a cowl ventilator which, when desired, may

thereby at a minimum strike the occupants in the front seat of the admission chamber be d5 utilized, as is well understood, to admit air currents downwardly aroun seat occupants. provided with d the feet of the front The air admission chamber is gutters so located as to entrain entering water and drain it away so that it does 5% not enter the vehicle body.

At the rear of in the upper po a point where the air pressure, 1+. movement of the vehicl the vehicle rtion t body and preferably hereof, and especially at due to the foris less than t 55 obtaining within the vehicle, I provide an adjustable outlet means which permits the air entering the forward part of the vehicle to pass directly out to the rear without creating uncomfortable eddy currents in the vehicle.

Apparatus embodying features of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, in which Fig. 1 is an elevation with parts broken away showing a motor vehicle having my improved ventilating system applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is an, enlarged sectional view through the air admissionchamber, and taken along the line II-II of Fig. 4; I

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional the line IIIIII of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view, partly in section, of the air admission chamber and front of the vehicle body;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view showing the air outlet means at the rear of the vehicle; Fig. 6 is a rear view of the vehicle showing the rear air outlet in elevation;

Fig. '7 is a sectional view of the air admission chamber showing a modified form of valve means for admitting air into the interior of the vehicle body; and v Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view showing j a modified form of rear outlet valve mechanism.

Referring to the drawings for a better understanding of my invention, I show a motor vehicle having a body l0, windshield II, which is preferably fixed, and a cowl l2. Located beneath the windshield II and on the cowl I2 is the air admission chamber l3. The upper wall l4 of the air admission chamber extends forwardly generally parallel to the cowl I2, turning abruptly downwardly to provide a front I 6 for engaging the air currents as the vehicle moves forwardly.

The front It of the air admission chamber may be provided with a single opening or, for the purpose of ornamentation, a plurality of openings I! for the admission of air to the chamber,

. and across each of the openings I! is 'a screen I 8 to prevent the access of flying insects.

The bottom wall l9 of the-air admission chamber extends rearwardly of the windshield and is curved upwardly and is formed with a spirally rolled edge' to form a gutter 2| to catch water shield and entering with the air current, which gutter terminates in a drain conduit 20 leading downwardly therefrom to carry off the water. Also the upper wall I4 is brought rearwardly of the windis provided with a spirally rolled edge 25 which joins the rolled edge of the lower wall H at the ends and thus connects with the drain 20.

Located within the air admission chamber I3 is a cowl ventilator 22 which may be opened if desired to direct part of the air currents downwardly around the feet of the occupants of the front section of the vehicle. Surrounding the opening 23, in which the cow] ventilator is situated, is a gutter 24 terminating in a drain 26 which serves "to carry away water entering with the air around the cowl ventilator opening.

As will be seen from the drawings, the upwardly turned bottom wall l9 forms, with the top wall H of the air chamber, an upwardly directed passage leading into the interior of the vehicle body. The passage of air from the chamber to the interior of the vehicle body is controlled by a plurality of butterfly valve members 21 arranged to overlap and seat, as shown when in closed position. Each of the valve members is view taken along provided with a. pinion 28 which meshes with a rack 29 on an operating rod 353 eiitending rearwardly through the instrument board 3! of the vehicle. The valves may thus be closed or opened to any desired angle of opening to deflect entering air currents in a direction to provide the maximum of comfort to'the occupants of the vehicle. Preferably one set of valves is arranged for each side, as shown in Fig. 4, so as to provide independent adjustment of the admission of air on each side of the vehicle.

The arrangement of the outlet passage with. the valve 21, either intheopen or closed position, insures against admission through this device to the interior of the vehicle ,by pilferers when the vehicle is left unattended.

Located in the upper rear sloping roof portion of the vehicle body as shown in Fig. 1, and

extending across beneath the rear window is an outlet passage 32 in which is located an outlet valve 33 pivoted along its lower edge at 40, which may be opened and closed by means of a suitable handle 34 secured thereto, and adjusted to any desired position 'by means of its engagement'with a notched spring quadrant 36. It will be understood, however, that the operating means herein shown is only illustrative and that many other means for adjusting the valve will suggest .themselves to those skilled in the art.

The arrangement of the outlet passage, with its valve either in open or closed position, insures against admission through the device to the interlor of the vehicle by pilferers when the vehicle is left unattended. Likewise, the rear window with the valve arrangement pivoted as shown forwardly of the lower edge of thewindow 35 eflectively prevents rain and sleet from entering the interior of the vehicle when the valve is in open position.

In Fig. 7 I show a modified form of air admission mechanism which may be used with my invention. Instead of a plurality of valves, I may employ a single pivoted valve 31 of the butterfly type operated through a crank 38 and push 'rod 39, the latter extending outwardly through the instrument board 3|. 1

In Fig. 8 I show a modified form of air outlet means. In accordance with this modification I provide a rear valve member 42 having the same contour as the rear of the body. The valve member is pivoted at its lower end, at 43, and is opened downwardly by means of a handle 44 being adjustable to any desired position by means of a spring segment 43. In order to prevent leakdrains. The air admitted to the interior of the vehicle from. the air admission chamber may be. deflected upwardly along the windshield or in any desired direction by means of the upwardly curved wall is and the valves 21, and passes rearwardly and outwardly through ventilating devices in the rear. It will be seen that by adjustment of the valves any desired circulation of air through the vehicle may be maintained without the production of discomforting eddy currents and that the de 'ces may be operated with safety during adverse weather conditions.

While I have shown nw invention .in several forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended What I claim is:

1. In a ventilating system for motor vehicles, means defining an air admission chamber across the vehicle beneath the windshield and extending rearwardly into the vehicle body, valve means controlling the admission of air from mission chamber into the vehicle body, and water collecting ,troughs within said chamber which are adapted to trap and discharge below the windshield level any water entering the chamber with the inflowing air current.

2. In a ventilating system for motor vehicles, means defining an air admission chamber extending-forwardly of the vehicle windshield and having a lower wall extending rearwardly of the windshield and curved upwardly to define with the forward wall thereof an upwardly directed passage opening into the vehicle body, deflecting valves in the passage, and means to adjust the deflecting valves to control the direction of the entering air currents.

3. In a ventilating system for motor vehicles, means defining an air admission chamber extending forwardly of the vehicle windshield and having a lower wall extending rearwardly of the windshield and curved upwardly to define with the forward wall thereof an upwardly directed passage opening into the vehicle body, valve means in the passage, and

means so asto direct the air currents upwardly from the air admission chamber into the vehicle body, and a cowl ventilator within the air admission chamber for directing air currents downwardly into the vehicle body.

4. In a motor vehicle having a windshield, a cowl and a cowl ventilator opening into the vehicle through the cowl, a hood overhanging the cowl ventilator and having an opening at its rear into the vehicle above the cowl, and having screened air admission openings forward of the cowl ventilator.

5. In a moto vehicle having a windshield, a cowl and a cowl ventilator opening into the vehicle through the cowl, a hood overhanging the co wl ventilator and having an opening at its rear into the vehicle above the cowl, and having screened air admission openings forward of the cowl ventilator, and means to entrap and drain away water entering with the air.

6. In a motor vehicle having a rearwardly sloplng roof with a window therein and a windshield, a cowl and a cowl ventilator opening into the vehicle through the cowl, a hood overhanging the cowl ventilator and having an opening at its rear into the vehicle above the cowl, and having screened air admission openings forward of the cowl ventilator means to entrap and drain away water entering with the air, and means beneath the window in the rearwardly sloping roof defining a .rear ventilating outlet ,to exhaust the air motion of the car, and a valve means pivoted horizontally along its lower edge for controlling said limitations shall be the air admeans to regulate the valve.

7. In a motor vehicle having a rearwardly sloping roof with a window therein and a windshield, a cowl and a cowl ventilator opening into the vehicle through the cowl, a hood overhanging the cowl ventilator and having an opening at its rear into the vehicle above the cow and having screened air admission-openings forward of the cowl ventilator, means to entrap and drain away water entering with the air, means defining a rear ventilating outlet disposedbeneath and forward of the lower edge of the window in the rearwardly sloping roof to exhaust the air responsive to the motion of the car, and adjustable valve means pivoted along the lowerside of the ventilating outlet.

8. In a motor vehicle having a windshield and a cowl, a ventilating means interposed transversely between the windshield and the cowl and I comprising an air duct having a screened air inlet windshield, a cowl ventilator to control the downflow of air from the air duct, means within the air duct to trap and remove water entrained with the air currents in said duct, and valve means to direct upwardly the entering air currents.

9. In a ventilating system for a motor vehicle having a cowl anda windshield, means defining an air admission chamber extending across the cowlbeneath the windshield, said air admission chamber having screened front openings for the admission of air, a bottom wall 'for the chamber extending rearwardly of the windshield and inclined upwardly to define an upwardly directed discharge opening, a spirally rolled edge provided around the discharge opening and disposed to catch and drain away rain entering with the air, and adjustable valve means in the discharge open- 10. In a ventilating system for a motor vehicle having a cowl and a windshield, means defining an air admission chamber extending across the cowl beneath the windshield, said air admission chamber having screened front openings for the admission of air, a bottom wall for the chamber extending rearwardly of the windshield and inclined upwardly to define an upwardly directed discharge opening, a spirally rolled edge provided around the discharge opening disposed to catch and drain away'rain entering with the air, adjustable valve means in the discharge opening, and a cowl ventilator disposed between the admission and discharge openings for discharging aircurrents downwardly into the vehicle.

11. In a motor vehicle having a windshield and a cowl, a ventilating means interposed between the windshield and the cowl and comprising an air duct having a forward air admission opening, a rear discharge opening disposed rearwardly of the windshield, and a bottom discharge opening, and valve means to control the discharging air currents downwardly through the bottom opening and upwardly through the discharge opening to the rear of the windshield.

' 12. A motor vehicle having a rearwardly and upwardly sloping front wall rising from its cowl, and a rearwardly and downwardly sloping back wall, an inclined windshield in said front wall, a

, I said back wall and a screened front ventilator disposed transversely of the vehicle between its windshield and cowl and opening into the vehicle in position to discharge the ventilating air upwardly against said windshield, means to. catch and discharge water tending to enter the vehicle along with the ventilating air current, and valve means to regulate the outflow of air through said back wall ventilator and guard against access of water at that point.

13. A motor vehicle having, an upwardly and.

rearwardly sloping windshield, a transversely dis posed screened front ventilator opening under the windshield and having regulating valve means adapted to control the volume of the entering air and its angle of incidence against the inner face of the windshield, and a rear ventilator disposed in a rearwardly and downwardly sloping wall of the vehicle and having means to regulate the outflow of air and to guard against the access of 5 Water.

EDWDI H. BUFORD. 

